July 2015 Newsletter

Dear Friend of The West End Museum,

Hope you had a great 4th of July in the West End or anywhere else you might have been celebrating! Here at the West End Museum, we are excited to announce our very first Original West Enders Mini-Reunion, this Friday July 17th! Original West Enders and their families and friends are invited to take a walk down memory lane; and there is no better place to take this stroll than The West End Museum. More details in the article below.

Also in this newsletter, we’re proud to introduce to you our new Museum president, Dr. Susan Hanson. Dr. Hanson’s credentials couldn’t be more suitable for a historical museum such as our own, and we’re thrilled to have her at the helm of our institution.

In addition, our new exhibit, Tide Power in Colonial Boston, is having its opening reception on July 21st. The reception is free and open to the public. Read more below!

If you enjoy our upcoming roster of events, we hope you will consider becoming a West End Museum member. If you’re already a member, please help us spread the word about supporting our ongoing mission to highlight the history and culture of the neighborhood for visitors and residents of our City alike. Corporate and individual members are always welcome (special rates for students and seniors) as are donations . Membership and donations are tax deductible, and members receive discounts on paid Museum programs.

Thank you and best wishes!

Sincerely,

The Membership Team

Friday, July 17 & Friday, August 14  
1:00 to 3:00 PM

Original West Enders, family and friends are invited to the first in a series of Mini-reunions at the West End Museum.

We will view photos from The West End House, visit the Last Tenement exhibit gallery, and take a stroll down memory lane.

Refreshments will be served. Admission is free.

ProPark America (35 Lomasney Way) is offering a special discount for the first 10 vehicles: Parking will be $5 an hour for up to 2 hours. AFTER 2 HOURS REGULAR RATES WILL APPLY. Discounted tickets are limited and will be handed out at the events. Call in advance for availability at 617-723-2125 during museum hours.

History aficionado Dr. Susan Hanson, whose experience in U.S. museums includes positions at the Smithsonian Institution and history projects in seven states, has been named President of The West End Museum Board of Directors. She aims to increase the Museum’s public offerings, stabilize its finances and increase its visibility within Metro Boston and throughout New England.

“My long-term vision is for the Museum to become a key institution in urban renewal interpretation and research inspired by the experience of the original West Enders,” Hanson said.

Hanson has 30-plus years of comprehensive experience in the field. This includes her consulting service-History Behind the Scenes-through which she has worked with numerous museums and historic sites to develop strategic and interpretive plans.

Runs July 14 through September 19, 2015
Show Reception: July 21st at 6 PM 

Exhibit and reception are free and open to the public.

To fuel mills for producing flour, fabric, lumber and even chocolate, innovators in colonial Boston turned to the power of the tides. A new exhibit in the Members’ Gallery of The West End Museum–Tide Power in Colonial Boston–tells the story of the development and use of tide mills in the city.

Colonial Millstone”For 150 years prior to the industrial revolution, the tides sustained many industries in Boston,” said Duane Lucia, West End Museum Curator. “The story of the creation of dams and mill ponds-both the successes and failures-as well as their ultimate demise is fascinating.”

Tide Power in Colonial Boston explores the mechanisms of the mills and trades they supported. Historical maps illustrate the role of Boston’s topography in the construction of the mills and the demand for land-making which contributed to their downfall.